Just got my copy of "The Catholic Radical"

Which is a little publication put out by the SS. Francis and Therese Catholic Worker house of Worcester, MA. Claire and Scott Schaeffer-Duffy have run a "House of Hospitality" with meals and sleeping arrangements for the down and out for over twenty years. Supporters have lived in the house, some for several years, but the Schaeffer-Duffy's are the heart of this small Catholic Worker community.

I met them about 12 or 14 years ago at a retreat that was held at their House of Hospitality. In their six times a year publication they describe the Catholic Worker movement as "a lay movement offering hospitality to the poor while denouncing injustice and promoting peace." The Schaeffer-Duffy's have traveled worldwide. About two years ago, we invited Claire to our Church, for a facinating discussion (with heart-breaking pictures) of her trip to Afghanistan, shortly after the Taliban were run out of town.

In addition to the cover stories - "U.S. Out of Iraq" and "Venezuela's Rovolution of Hope", Scott had an interesting article entitled "How to Hold a Protest."

The Catholic Worker movement (think Dorothy Day) is pacifist, anarchist, (they don't vote), anti-capitalist, anti-death penalty, anti-abortion, emphasis on manual labor, emphasis on studying their Catholic faith. In other words, pretty radical.

The House gets by on donations, and I believe some small amounts of money that may come in for occasional articles written for Catholic publications. Scott and Claire have four children.

I don't agree with all their positions, but they are not just "talking the talk" they are "walking the walk."

If this sounds like a group you'd like to support, just leave a comment and I'll get you more info. They don't have a website.